Farm land and infrastructure facility

i. Seed farms

            The seed production programmes are organized with the help of twenty six farms of the university (Table 1), which are spread over twenty two districts of Madhya Pradesh. Maintenance breeding of recommended crop varieties, nucleus and breeder seed production is carried out in systematic manner. Hybrid seed production has started in pigeonpea, maize, sorghum, pearl millet and caster during 2008-09. Besides, Raj Vijay seed and planting materials are also produced as per requirement of the state as well as the country.

 

 

ii. Land

The total area of twenty six farms is 1095.53 hectares. Out of which, 703.35 hectares is under cultivation. Among the cultivated area, 13.39 and 35.15 % is irrigated and partially irrigated, respectively. Rest of the cultivated area is under rainfed farming. The area under plantation crop is about 95.86 ha. Similarly, area under fallow and pasture land is 75.92 ha. The area occupied by road and buildings is 220.40 ha. The land use pattern of individual seed farm is summarized

 

 I= Irrigated,    PI= Partially irrigated, R= Rainfed

Features of Seed Production Programme

The impartment features of the seed production programme are the maintenance breeding of seed chain crop varieties, production of nucleus and breeder seeds with effective internal monitoring system. Seed production of public sector hybrids in various crops and planning materials are the other features of our seed production programmes. Diversification of nucleus/breeder seed production programme with a view to meet the growing demand of quality seed and planting material of vegetables,spices, medicinal and aromatic plants have added new dimensions. The seed production programme is reviewed at Vishwa Vidyalaya level during kharif/rabi seasons every year. The University has also initiated need-based training programme for seed professionals with a view to update knowledge on seed technology, seed certification standards and covering all important and relevant aspects of seed production, processing and storage.

 

Seed Production System

i. Crop improvement

            Continuous release of improved varieties and hybrids from crop improvement programmes is basic requirement for a sound and dynamic seed sector. Accordingly, the team of breeders and scientists are actively involved in breeding better varieties/ hybrids in cereals, pulses, oil seeds, vegetables, spices, cotton, fruit crops, medicinal and aromatic plants with strong financial support from ICAR/State Government. Consequently, a large number of varieties have been developed and released by the constituent research centers or in process of release at state as well as at national level.

ii. Maintenance breeding

            The maintenance breeding is one of the important activities of seed production programme of this Vishwa Vidyalaya. A dedicated team of crop breeders located at various research stations are involved in this programme. The crop varieties are being maintained by single plant selections (SPS) and their subsequent evaluation in progeny rows for genetic purity and true to the types. The SPS bulks are multiplied to produce the nucleus seed for raising the breeder seed.

iii. Seed production planning

            Seed indents from national and state Government, private seed sector and previous year demands and sales forms the basis for the finalization of the targets of breeder seed production programme of all the crops. The entire seed production programme and selection of crop varieties is developed with the consent of officer-in-charge farm and the Dean/ Associate Director Research at university level/ zonal level every year. Any modification in seed production programme in only permissible subjected to the prior approval of Director Farms. The Raj Vijay Seed is being produced from breeder seed in the area after the coverage of nucleus/breeder seed.

iv. Monitoring of seed production programmes

The targets with name of producing breeder and centre for the production of nucleus and breeder seeds are notified in proforma NSP I and BSP I for all the crops after seed review and planning meeting at university level. It is mandatory for the officer-in-charge farm to submit the follow up action to the Director Farm. The monitoring of seed production programme is being done by internal monitoring teams, representatives of the respective Coordinator/Project Director, monitoring team constituted by respective Coordinator/Project Director, official monitoring team for breeder seed production and senior officers of VV viz: associate Director Research, Dean, Directors and Hon’ble Vice Chancellor.

v. Seed distribution

            The breeder seed produced is being supplied against the indents. The surplus breeder seed is being made available to indenters on first cum first served basis. Raj Vijay Seed is being supplied directly to the farmers/seed societies/private seed sectors through seed counters of the university.

vi. Seed extension activities

            Seed Village Scheme is operated in twenty two districts of the state located in the jurisdiction of the university. The surplus breeder/ Raj Vijay Seed of improved varieties of various crops are also made available to the farmers/ private seed sectors to create seed demands.

 

Achievements in seed production

i. Maintenance breeding

          The maintenance of recommended and notified crop varieties is basic requirement for maintaining the genetic purity, seed chain and production of nucleus seed. Maintenance breeding is therefore in operation with help of dedicated team of crop breeders working in different research project at different centers. The list of varieties in different crop, which genetic purity was maintained during the report period is summarized in Table 4. The genetic purity of parents of   released hybrids in sorghum, maize, pigeonpea and caster was also maintained.

ii. Nucleus seed production

            Nucleus seed is produced from either single plant progenies or bulk seed of single plant progenies. It is starting point of seed multiplication chain. The target for production of nucleus seed is decided considering the demand and indent of breeder seed in different crops as well as demands of the varieties. A total of 508.86q of nucleus seed was produced during report period in nine crops and 31 varieties

 

Nucleus seed produced

 

iii. Breeder seed production

            Breeder seed is the back bone of the quality seed production programme as quality seed is very crucial and essential for increasing the production and productivity of any crop. This university is committed to hold the responsibility of breeder seed production as per indents of Government of India and state of Madhya Pradesh. On behalf of the university, the Directorate of Research Services is actively engaged in the coordination of breeder seed production in different crop varieties for maintaining the seed chain and meeting the demand of quality seed. Quantity of breeder seed produced is presented in table 6.

Crop	Varieties	Quantity (q.)
Rainy season (Kharif)   2009
Soybean	JS 95-60, JS 335, JS 93-05 and JS 97-52	3266.40
Moong	TJM 3 and JM 721	17.49
Urid	JU 86,and T 9	8.81
Pearl millet	JBV 3	3.15
Sorghum	JJ 1041, Indore 12 and  JJ 938	12.55
Ground nut	JGN 3 and JGN 23	46.00
Pigeonpea	JA4, JKM 189, TJT 501 and JKM 7	35.81
Winter season ( Rabi) 2009-10
Gram	JG 11, JG16, JG 130, JG 226, JAKI 9218, JG 218, JG 412, Vishal,   JG 6, JGK 3 and  JGK 1	2442.0
Wheat	MP 4010, GW 366, JW 322, JW 3020, HW 2004, Lok 1, Sujata and C 366	2366.4
Pea	Arkel, PSM 3, AP 3 and Pusa pragati	160.0
Lentil	JL 3	1.13
Mustard	Pusa bold, JM 1, JM 2 and JM 3	279.0
Safflower	JSF 1, JSI 99 and JSI 97	2.1
Toria	JT 1	0.8
Total		8641.64
Kharif 2010
Soybean	JS 95-60, JS 335, JS 93-05, JS 90-41 and JS 97-52	2932.90
Paddy	Kranti	135.00
Moong	TJM 3 and JM 721	24.60
Urd	RBU 38 and T 9	12.70
Sorghum	Indore 12 and  JJ 938	9.00
Ground nut	JGN 3 and JGN 23	36.00
Arhar	JA4, JKM 189 and TJT-501	59.45
	Total	3209.65
Rabi 2010-11
Gram	JG 11, JG16, JG 130, JAKI 9218, JG 12,  JG 6, and JKG 3	1909.20
Wheat	MP 12 03, MP 4010, Lok 1, GW 366, GW 322, GW 273, JW 3020, HW 2004, Sujata and GW 2932	3330.0
Pea	Arkel and AP 3	164.50
Lentil	JL 3	4.20
Mustard	JM 3, JM 4 and Rohini	188.50
Toria	JT 1	8.00
Safflower	JSI 97 and JSF 1	1.60
	Total	5606.00
	Grand total	8515.65

 

Hybrid Seed production

            Hybrid varieties are known to have higher yield potential in comparison to improved varieties.  Earlier, seed production in hybrids was concentrated to public sector hence; farmers were bound by this seed at higher price. Timely unavailability of hybrid seed was another limitation in the spread of hybrid varieties. In view of this, the hybrid seed production programme was initiated with the inception of this university for the production of seed of public sector hybrids in maize, pearl millet, sorghum, caster and pigeonpea. Quantity of hybrid seed produced is presented in Table 7.

Crops	Varieties	Seed quantity produce (Kg.)
		2008-09	2009-10	2010-11
Maize	HQPM 1	215	768	840
Pigeonpea	ICPH 2671	3783	3435	1400
Pearl millet	HHB 67	2720	1486	917
Sorghum	CSH 18	--	80	1397
Caster	DCH 177	--	285	300

 

v.  Rajvijay seed

            Rajvijay seed is good quality seed which is produced from saving of breeder seed for direct utilization at farmer’s field. It was produced in medicinal plants like, opium, Isabgol, chandrasoor, ashwagandha and Dil seed. Rajvijay seed was also produced in spice crops viz, garlic, fenugreek and coriander along with some food crops also.

       

vi. Production of planting materials

            Adequate availability of quality planting material to the farmers is important for the development of horticulture in the right direction. Keeping these points in view, the quality planting material was produced in eleven fruit crops which are aonla, lemon, Jamun, mango, custard apple, orange, guava, papaya, jack fruit, karonda and pomegranate.

 

Issues

The following issues concerning quality seed production, distribution, seed enhancement and storage are of prime concern to the Directorate

• Strengthening the seed production and processing infrastructure available under National Agricultural Research System (NARS) by adequate funding, monitoring and coordination of activities.

• Meeting the target of breeder seed production of cereals, pulses and oilseeds by the end of XI five year plan.

• Dissemination of quality seeds to marginal farmers and tribal.

• Standardization of hybrid seed production technology.

• Evaluation and standardization of organic seed production technology of major crops.

·         Maintenance of good seed health and germinability through effective control of seed borne diseases and storage pests.